Join Author David G. Woolley and start your day with a bit of Irish Luck

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Sariah & the Brass Plates

by David G. WoolleyEditor's note: The Top of the Morning staff is pleased to continue our week-long celebration of the Day of Remembrance with author David G. Woolley through the Jewish Feast day on Monday, September 29th. Today's post deals with the brass plates and Sariah, wife of Lehi.

The Book of Mormon is a divine treasure trove. It clarifies biblical doctrine. It adds the weight of proportion to the most important gospel teachings. Faith. Repentance. Forgiveness. Baptism. Atonement. Salvation. It restores and supports the divine necessity of covenant-making and covenant-keeping. It testifies of Christ. Its also a treasury of artifacts that lends very nicely to novel writing.

Laban's sword. The Liahona Compass. The Title of Liberty. Small plates. Large plates. An Ezrom of silver (look for a fascinating discussion about ezroms of silver in a future post). These tangibles make the intangibles of story telling palpable. Artifacts are the building blocks of epics. The technical tools of scene creation. The props of a great tale.

The jewel in the crown of ancient Book of Mormon artifacts is the brass plate record sequestered in Captain Laban's treasury. Similar to the Semitic writings found on this bell-shaped brass plate pictured above, Captain Laban's brass plate record was one of the first artifacts mentioned in the Book of Mormon. Its also arguably the most important.

For nearly a thousand years the the Law of Moses recorded in the brass plates guided the religious life and the cultural identity of the Nephites. They were to have no other Gods but the God of Israel. Graven images were out. Modesty was in. The meat of wild animals was prohibited. Domesticated beasts were the only approved source of animal protein and even then, if the meat was not ritually drained of its blood by the local Nephite priest, it was likely considered a blood-thirsty, unclean food and not fit for consumption. Personal sanitation was paramount. Washing a must. Clean water wells and flowing aquifers satiated the need for bathing. Agriculture was encouraged. Hunting and nomadic life was frowned upon.

When Enos wrote of his Lamanite adversaries he described them in terms of his covenant-keeping Law-of-Moses-adhereing world view. We learn as much about Nephite cultural and religious sensibilities as we do of the Lamanites when he wrote, "I bear record that the people of Nephi did seek diligently to restore the Lamanites unto the true faith in God. But our labors were vain; their hatred was fixed, and they were led by their evil nature that they became wild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty people, full of idolatry and filthiness; feeding upon beasts of prey; dwelling in tents, and wandering about in the wilderness with a short skin girdle about their loins and their heads shaven; and their skill was in the bow, and in the cimeter, and the ax. And many of them did eat nothing save it was raw meat; and they were continually seeking to destroy us (Enos 1:20).

The last phrase from Enos is rather telling. Neighboring non-covenant-keeping tribal civilizations, referred to in this passage under the blanket title of Lamanites, were continually seeking to destroy the Nephites. Why the war-like mentality? The family feud between Laman and Nephi likely didn't fuel outrage in vast segments of Lamanite society, many of whom were not direct descendants of Laman and Lemuel. Anger over centuries old grudges may have been the war cry, but the Book of Mormon makes very clear that suspicion over unfamiliar Nephite religious practices coupled with competition for life-sustaining resources like land, water, and crops, as well as sources of wealth like gold and silver, were the fundamental motivators of self-interest behind their wars.

The Nephites were peculiar when compared to any other tribal group in the region. Nephites worshiped a living God. Neighboring civilizations worshiped idols. The Nephites looked forward to the coming of Christ. Neighboring civilizations looked forward to the coming of whole classes of heavenly, earthly and underworld Gods. Nephites viewed their kings as men in the service of God. Neighboring civilizations deified their kings in deity impersonation rituals and their war heroes and generals were believed to be Gods come to earth in human form. The Nephites followed a strict code of nutrition. Neighboring civilizations hunted wild game. The Nephites lived a sedentary, agrarian lifestyle. Neighboring civilizations were mostly semi-nomadic with the exception of some north-of-the-narrow-neck groups who became expert in building cement homes. And even those were dissident Nephites who defected in search of arable land and who, for a time after defecting, likely followed at least portions of the Law of Moses.

The account of Mosiah interloping the kingship of a newly encountered civilization is difficult to fathom if not for one key factor (Omni 1:12-20). The brass plates. Warned by God through revelation, Mosiah escaped the Land of Nephi ahead of a Lamanite attack that would likely have brought the Nephite civilization perilously close to extinction. He led the migration of roughly thirty thousand through difficult-to-negotiate mountains for twenty one days before arriving in the Vally of the Land of Zarahemla where, over nearly four hundred years, the Mulekites had established a much larger kingdom. It was the brass plates that likely convinced King Zarahemla to turn the reigns of government power over to non-native speaking, newly arrived King Mosiah. The Law of Moses preserved on the metal plates was a symbol of their shared Hebrew past. It was a constitutional foundation under which they would mix multiple tribes speaking multiple languages into a single Nephite nation under the rule of direct descendants of Nephi.

Divine inspiration led Lehi to send his sons back to Jerusalem to secure the brass plates from Captain Laban. Not only did the record guide the religious practices of the Nephites, preserve their heritage, and act as the foundation for governing their society for nearly six hundred years, it also contained the writings of ancient prophets destined to be copied into the gold plate record containing the text of the Book of Mormon. Sariah, the mother of these boys, was no less inspired to agree to the unthinkable. She allowed her sons to return to Jerusalem knowing that their mission could get them killed.

In this excerpt from Day of Remembrance, the expectant mother, Sariah, has been up most of the night while Lehi tossed and turned in his sleep. He was dreaming, she was suffering the pain of carrying a baby to term in the unforgiving heat and sands of a wilderness desert. She was also distressed over the possiblity of her sons returning to Jerusalem. Neither of them slept well. This scene takes place in the early morning hours inside the tent Sariah shares with her prophet-husband.

Lehi said, “We haven’t a copy of the Law.”

Sariah said, “We brought the writings of other prophets with us.”

“I want your blessing to send our sons back.”

Sariah didn’t answer him and Lehi said, “I dreamed a dream that they’re to go back to—

“I heard you.”

“Then you agree to send them?”

“It’s far too dangerous to send them back for brass plates.”

“I never mentioned brass plates.”

Sariah took hold of the tent pole, the narrow timber bending under her but not breaking. “They’re one of Captain Laban’s relics, aren’t they?” She slowly nodded as she spoke. “Laban keeps them in a treasury beneath his estate, locked away in some sort of vault—isn’t that so? And he guards them with fifty soldiers.”

“I don’t know how many guards.”

“There’s fifty and they keep watch at the front and back entrances day and night armed with swords, and spears and arrows and slings and every manner of weapon.”

“Where did you learn that?”

Sariah slowly lowered herself to the ground holding the center tent pole with one hand and Lehi helping her with the other. She pulled the lambskin blanket under her chin like a child hiding from the dangers of night. “Captain Laban keeps the record of the Jews and also a genealogy of your forefathers engraved on plates of brass.” She glanced up at Lehi. “Why would the Captain have your Genealogy? There’s no explanation for that, but for some reason he does.”

Lehi said, “Where did you get such a notion?”

Sariah brushed a tear from her cheek before softly saying, “Last night I dreamed the same dream.”

I love Sariah too. She's a marvel. I like to think she is everyone's mom.

Kim:

Thanks for stopping by the Top of the Morning. Hope you enjoy your jaunt. Come back often. I notice that you're an author. Tell us more. That is really interesting. And, of course, being in the same professional pursuit, I'm all ears.

Wow Kim. And I didn't even figure that one out. Your son and his entire team are having a great run this fall, wouldn't you agree?

Game time on Friday pushed one half hour earlier. Did you get the email?

I'm happy for you and your all-but-published work. What's the working title? What's the genre? What's the story? Who are the characters you like the most? Sad but true, even authors have favorites.

Thanks again for stopping by Top of the Morning and clicking around. I'm hoping that the content is uplifting and informative and worth your time. The posts just continue to grow and grow. There's lots more interesting stuff just waiting in the wings.

All the best,

David G. Woolley

PS: bring a Book of Mormon afficiando friend to the Top of the Morning next time you stop by. The more, the merrier...

Why don't you send me a copy of your ms (or drop it by a soccer game). Every author ms I've reccomended to the editors over at Covenant have gotten a quick reply and a contract. Just a thought. However, I don't want you to break my unbroken string...

Featured Side Bar Posts

Where everyday you can join author David G. Woolleyand the Top of the Morning staff for informative, entertaining and uplifting commentary and opinion with special installments dedicated to the fascinating history,archeology, anthropology, and Book of Mormon writings that inspired the publication of five works in the Promised Land historical fiction series and continues to inspire the writing of three more. Check the side-bar below for some of our featured posts from David G. Woolley.

Top of the Morning Readers

The Language of Nephi (Part I)

Click this Mayan glyph to read Part I in a series on Nephite language by David G. Woolley

Birth of a Christmas Carol

Click this Christmas Carol portrait to read a Christmas Short Story by author David G. Woolley

Don't Fake It

Click this molecular photo of aspartame floating in your favorite diet drink to read a fascinating post about artificial sugar and your health by David G. Woolley

Who's A Nephite?

Click this Nephite running from the bruning City of Zarahemla to read this Book of Mormon post by David G. Woolley about who really is a Nephite.

Mission Impossible?

Click this Mission Impossible film still cut to read a Book of Mormon realted post on Christ's admonition to perfection by David G. Woolley

Unlock the Past & Your Soul

Click this recreation of the ancient Jewish Fort Lakhish to read Book of Mormon related post about digging up the ancient past by David G. Woolley

Tomato Soup Nazi

Click this tomato to read a light-hearted healthy post with a killer tomato soup recipe

Ancient Book of Mormon Borders

Click these "border" mountains to read a Book of Mormon post on Old and New World geography related to the restoration scripture by David G. Woolley

Worse Than Beer

Click these root beer bottles to read a funny family story about root beer imposters by David G. Woolley

Lehi's 600 Year "Tun" Prophecy

Click this Mayan calendar to read a Book of Mormon related post on Lehi's 600 year "Tun" prophecy and Alma's 400 year "baktun" prophecy

Do the Honest Thing

Click this once stolen Monet painting of "Two Women in a Boat" to read a post about art theft that spanned decades and destroyed lives

The Refiners Fire

Click this ancient metal rendering of a blacksmith to read the fascinating post on refiniing ancient silver and your modern soul by David G. Woolley

Soccer Dads and the Vote Recount

Summertime on a Shoe String

Click this Zion's Park cliff hanging photo for a fun post on summertime by David G. Woolley

Presidential Politics in Utah

Click Romney & McCain photo to read this entertaining political post by David G. Woolley

The Secret To Happiness

Click the fogged mirror for an insightful post from David G. Woolley

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

Click this Winston Churchill photo for commentary on our times by David G. Woolley

Celebrating Ha-Zikaron

During the 2008 anniversary week between Joseph Smith's first visit with Moroni on the evening of September 21st and the Jewish feast-day celebration of the Feast of Trumpets on Monday, September 29th, author David G. Woolley and the Top of the Morning Staff presented a week-long series of posts dedicated to celebrating the Day of Remembrance. Links to the dedicatory posts can be found below in the side bar. We hope you enjoy being part of the celebration as much as we do.

On This Night

Click this well-known Joseph Smith and Moroni painting for an interesting Book of Mormon related post. Celebrating the Day of Remembrance with author David G. Woolley.

On This Hill

Click this wooded hill photo for a faithful Book of Mormon post. Celebrating the Day of Remembrance with author David G. Woolley.

On This Prophetic Date

Click this Hebrew calendar to read this cosmic Book of Mormon related tpost. Celebrating the Day of Remembrance with author David G. Woolley.

Sariah & the Brass Plates

Click this bell-shaped brass plate to read a fascinating Book of Mormon post. Celebrating the Day of Remembrance with Author David G. Woolley

Feast of Trumpets

Click this shofar (trumpet) to read a Book of Mormon related post about the Jewish celebration of the Feast of Trumpets. Celebrating the Day of Remembrance with author David G. Woolley

Divine Calendars

Click this mayan glyphic stone calendar to read an interesting Book of Mormon related post on the origination of calendars. Celebrating the Day of Remembrance with author David G. Woolley.

Happy Day of Remembrance

Click this Rosh Hashanah greeting card to read the final Book of Mormon related post in this series. Celebrating the Day of Remembrance with author David G. Woolley.

Eat Well, Live Well

The Top of the Morning staff is pleased to feature the following side-bar posts on healthy eating by David G. Woolley. We hope it helps you feel great.

The Business of Food

Click Veggies to read this popular healthy food introductory post by David G.Woolley

Raising the Red Falg

Click the flag for a sobering post on what we eat by David G. Woolley

Getting It Straight

Click this backwards clock for commentary on healthy eating by David G. Woolley

Gotta Have It?

Click this junk food for a post on healthy eating by David G. Woolley

The Gift of Tongues

Click this tongue to read a healthy post by David G. Woolley

Introducing the Promised Land

The Top of the Morning staff is pleased to introduce you to author David G. Woolley's Promised Land Series. You can visit his Promised Land Website or click on any of the side bar book cover icons below and have a look inside. Welcome to the Promised Land.

The Promised Land Website

Click on David G. Woolley at the Guatemalan ruins of Tikal to enter the Promised Land where you're sure to find the author hard at work in his writing room